Hulme denies closure jibe

TORY leader Jack Hulme has emphatically denied claims he proposed to close Chadderton’s Oakbank Community Centre.

Councillor Hulme is angry at the allegation levelled by Chadderton North councillor Len Quinn, reported in the Chronicle earlier this week.

He has also denied that the matter was only dropped because Councillor Quinn — who later switched from the Conservatives to become an Independent — threatened to resign.

A briefing paper dated February 7 proposed withdrawing lifelong services from Oakbank as well as Saddleworth Centre and the Pottery Centre in Union Street. This would save £189,589.

Councillor Hulme says this was drawn up by an officer and explained: “That briefing paper, which was unsolicited by myself or anyone else, passed across my desk on February 17. At that time councillor Quinn was a colleague and a Chadderton North councillor. I told him about it later that very same day.

“I said to him I would be taking immediate steps to look into it because it was completely out of the blue. The following day I discussed what was in this paper with the leader of the council and we agreed it was unacceptable.

“I informed Councillor Quinn of that the same day. At no time did councillor Quinn offer the threat of resignation.”

Councillor Quinn resigned at the council meeting on February 23.

Councillor Hulme added: “As far as this administration was concerned, there were never any plans to close the Oakbank Centre.”

Councillor Quinn is not defending his seat in the May 5 local elections, but said that he would be supporting the Labour candidate.

Michael Jameson, director of children’s services, said: “There are no plans to close Oakbank and Saddleworth lifelong learning centres or the Pottery Centre.”

“However, like all local authorities across the country Oldham Council has had to make savings, including £41 million in 2011-2012 and we need to find a further £22 million savings in 2012-2013. Therefore, all aspects of the Council’s operations, including its premises, remain under review.”